[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 24911]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   CONCERNING VIOLENCE IN MIDDLE EAST

  (Mr. FORD asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, on October 25, yesterday, the House of 
Representatives passed H.Con.Res. 426, a resolution concerning violence 
in the Middle East.
  Like those who supported the resolution, I am profoundly saddened by 
the loss of life precipitated by the recent outbreak of violence in 
Gaza and the West Bank. My support for the State of Israel and Israeli 
people as my voting record has demonstrated during my brief tenure here 
in the Congress has been unwavering. However, I could not support the 
resolution in the form it was presented yesterday because in my view it 
unfairly and broadly assigned blame for the violence in the Middle 
East.
  A lasting Middle East peace can only be achieved if all parties 
demonstrate courage in the negotiation process. Central to this is the 
immediate renunciation of all violence and an expression of willingness 
by both sides to return to the negotiating table. Chairman Arafat's 
words and actions demonstrate his unwillingness to participate. I 
strongly support President Clinton's efforts to bring both sides to the 
negotiating table to begin again the slow and often difficult work that 
is necessary to ensure a lasting and just peace.



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